13 May 2011
Despite an announcement by the Bahraini authorities, the second hearing of the trial being held against 21 political opponents and human rights defenders before the National Security court was not held in public. Two observers from International human rights NGOs were not allowed to attend the hearing.
The defendent’s lawyers complained that they did not have enough time with their clients and that the prison conditions were very bad. The request by one of the lawyers for the release of the detainees was refused.
13 May 2011
Despite an announcement by the Bahraini authorities, the second hearing of the trial being held against 21 political opponents and human rights defenders before the National Security court was not held in public. Two observers from International human rights NGOs were not allowed to attend the hearing.
The defendent’s lawyers complained that they did not have enough time with their clients and that the prison conditions were very bad. The request by one of the lawyers for the release of the detainees was refused.
During the hearing, AbdulHadi Alkhawaja told the judge that he feared for his life as he had been threatened by his jailers that they would kill him. After the hearing, all the families were allowed to see the detainees except his family.
The families of the detainees have been threatened to not be allowed to see the detainees if they speak to one of the international observers.